This project is an observational, prospective and laboratory based retrospective multi-centre, national study of invasive disease caused by S.Pneumoniae or H.influenzae or N. meningitis in children < 5 years of age. Two aspects are covered: one, a study of disease burden indicators and, two, study of the organism characteristics covering a well defined population in a specific geographical area.
The study will not interface with normal procedures for patients with suspected invasive pneumococcal disease. Therefore, type of sterile site sample collected (blood, CSF, pleural fluid or other) is based upon the clinical judgment of the pediatrician. Samples are processed in the hospital lab to grow bacterial isolates and identify isolates.
